Heanor Library to close on safety grounds - new one could be build

Heanor Library is to close on safety grounds after engineers warned ‘immediate’ renovations are needed to the crumbling building.

And the Ilkeston Road building could be demolished and a new £892,500 one built in its place.

Heanor Library

Derbyshire county councillors will vote on whether to demolish it and rebuild it when they meet next week.

They will also decide on whether to temporarily relocate the library, which closes on Thursday, April 17, to a vacant shop in the town centre.

Councillor Dave Allen said: “We appreciate some people may be concerned about the temporary loss of their library but we have no choice as it is becoming unsafe and no longer cost effective to repair.

“These proposals present us with an excellent opportunity to consider a new purpose-built library in Heanor which is fit for the future and offers residents a wide range of modern, accessible services.”

The council says a complete renovation would cost £850,000 plus ongoing maintenance bills, as the library was built in the 1950s using timber posts and beams which have needed ‘significant structural repairs’ over the years and were badly affected by the recent severe wet winter weather.

The branch has 5,600 members, with around 750 new members joining every year.

If the proposals are approved, a new library could be ready by March 2015.

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